Go easier on inmates, prison told (and try using their first names)

A prison has been told by inspectors that it is being too hard on its inmates.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons said convicts should be called by their first names, given free condoms and be served evening meals at a later time to stop them feeling hungry in the night.

The report into Bullingdon Prison in Oxfordshire drew an angry response from guards, who have repeatedly claimed jails are going 'soft'.

Cushy enough? Ministry of Justice are continuing with the survey despite the cost - and cuts to the department budget

Glynn Travis, spokesman for the Prison Officers' Association, said: 'I don't think we can keep control of violent prisoners by calling them by their first name.'

Inspectors listed a range of areas where they felt prisoners' treatment was too harsh, and said that levels of force used on prisoners by staff, although falling, remained high.

The report, drawn up after an inspection in January, made a total of 200 recommendations, including several to improve the treatment of the 950 inmates.

It said prisoners should be addressed by their first name or surname and title – whichever they prefer – complaints about prison food should be responded to more quickly, and evening meals should start later to prevent inmates feeling hungry overnight.

It added that all prisoners should be given more time outside their cells, more inmates should be given gym inductions and condoms should be freely and anonymously available.

Among other issues raised by inmates were cramped conditions in shared cells, mundane training and lack of space in the library.

Mr Travis responded: 'Rather than criticise officers for their use of force, the inspectors should look at the underlying problems.

'There is more and more violence at prisons, because of a lack of staff. There are major problems with overcrowding and prisoners who shouldn't be there.'

Bullingdon Prison's governor, Phil Taylor, denied that life at the prison was too tough.

He said: 'Sanctions are in place for those prisoners who break rules – I don't think we're too hard on them. I think we have a balanced approach.

'I have seen draconian prisons and very liberal prisons and we're somewhere in the middle.'

In May, ministers faced an outcry amid claims by prison guards that prostitutes and drugs are being smuggled into 'cushy' jails.

The Prison Officers Association said inmates have such a good time they even pass up chances to escape.

Mr Travis said inmates benefit from satellite television, free telephone calls, breakfast in bed and officers who treat them with kid gloves for fear of breaching their human rights.

Phil Wheatley, director general of the National Offender Management Service, said of Bullingdon: 'This is a good report, of which the governor and staff should be proud.'

Last week it was disclosed that prisoners are being supplied with computer games consoles costing thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

The Prison Service has spent £221,726 on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo systems and software for inmates.

Ministers previously admitted spending only £10,000 on the gadgets. An audit carried out last month on Justice Secretary Jack Straw's orders revealed 12,948 game consoles among the 83,600 prison population of England and Wales.

Cushy enough? Ministry of Justice are continuing with the survey despite the cost - and cuts to the department budget